How to connect an antenna to a TV: what types of TV antennas exist, how to connect different types of antennas to a TV.

Almost everyone at least once while watching TV was annoyed with a bad picture or even its absence at all. The quality of the antenna and the correctness of its connection are just as important as the quality of the TV itself, which becomes useless without a TV signal.

What types of television antennas are there

All TV sets that are not receiving a cable TV signal are connected to an antenna. Depending on the distance from the broadcasting tower, signal receiving devices are divided into indoor, low-power (if the tower is close) and outdoor. We should also mention the satellite ones - they take the signal not from the relay tower, but from the satellite.

Indoor antennas

This type is installed indoors. Ease of installation and low cost are the advantages of these devices. There is no need to install a rod, drill holes in the walls for coaxial cable entry and its laying.

ATTENTION! Indoor antennas are capable of receiving only a very strong signal; they are installed no further than 30 km from the television center, and even then if the walls of the house are sufficiently permeable to radio waves.

In turn, they are divided into frame and core.

1. Rod - "horns", "rabbit ears" - have from two to four pins, often extending. These are the weakest signal receiving devices. Among the advantages are lightness, compactness, ease of transportation. Works well enough only in the meter range, at the very bottom. For adjustment - change the position of the antenna, orientation in space, length and angle between the "horns" - the mustache. It often happens that by tuning to one channel, the other will show poorly.
2. Framework. For the decimeter range, more advanced frame are intended, in the form of a closed loop on a stand. The reception quality is slightly higher.

Outdoor antennas

The most common type has many solutions and modifications. To avoid signal distortions, the antenna is placed as high as possible - there are recommendations for installation at a height of 10-15 meters, and in multi-storey buildings, as a rule, it is placed on the roof. They are divided into active and passive:

1. Active. Equipped with an amplifier located directly on the structure in a sealed case, which has an independent power supply (usually 12 V). They can receive very weak or distorted signals, out of line of sight. Through splitters, they can distribute a signal to several TVs.
2. Passive. They are used with direct line of sight of the transmitter, especially when located close to it - sometimes the signal, on the contrary, is too strong and is also distorted. In these cases, an attenuator is used - a step-down device. Naturally, passive devices are cheaper than active ones.

Satellite dishes

This is the best device for TV reception. Due to the massive structure, its price is an order of magnitude more expensive than other options. This is a white painted concave saucer aimed at the satellite. Signals from a satellite, falling on a concave surface, are reflected and concentrated at the point where the converter is located - the receiver itself. Several converters can be put on one "plate", one for each satellite.

The satellite signal is completely different from analog TV, so you also need a receiver - a device to search and switch channels and satellites themselves, which converts the signal into "understandable" TV. Satellite broadcasting is sometimes the only solution for television reception in remote or rugged areas - the picture is almost always perfect, only a thunderstorm or heavy snowfall can cause interference.

In addition to pluses, "plates" also have minuses. This is the cost, complexity of installation and setup (only a professional can correctly position the structure and set up the receiver). Diagnostics of the correct position requires special equipment.

ATTENTION! The wind can move the antenna, thereby disrupting the direction, or nearby trees blocking the visibility of the satellite - maintenance measures will be required.

It will also not be possible to distribute different channels from the "plate" to several TVs, since both the receiver and the converter work with only one frequency.

How to connect different types of antennas to your TV

The method of connecting the antenna to the TV directly depends on its type. Satellite - the most difficult to pair, followed by street ones, the easiest to connect are indoor ones.

Features of connecting a satellite dish

A satellite TV system consists of the following components:

• the antenna itself;
• receiver;
• tuning cable;
• converter.

The first step is to mount the plate itself on an adjustable mount. Experts calculate for each location the direction in which the satellite is located, and the angle of inclination of the antenna, determined by its height. The connector is not tightened too much, since a special tuning cable will be used, which will then be replaced with a permanent one.

Then the receiver is prepared. It must be flashed to work with a specific satellite, "fill" the list of channels into it. In the future, if the number of channels is steadily decreasing, this procedure must be repeated. The receiver is connected to the TV via an AV cable ("tulip") or HDMI.

It is also allowed to connect to a regular antenna jack - receivers have a built-in modulator, but the quality is significantly reduced with such a connection. The TV is configured to work with this type of connection, and the adjustment of the position of the antenna and the converter on it begins to achieve optimal signal strength. The receiver shows it in digital form, but in some cases special devices may be required. After tuning, change the tuning cable to a permanent one.

How to connect an indoor antenna

When connecting both indoor and indoor antennas, you first need to decide what type of connector your TV needs - a modern F or an outdated round one with a hole in the middle. Between the antenna and the TV, the signal is transmitted via a coaxial cable of the RF brand. After connecting the device to the TV, its position is located, allowing it to receive a signal with minimal distortion.

The procedure for connecting the beam structure

The beam antenna is connected in the same way as a room antenna, with the only difference that its position is adjusted outside the room, often on the roof. Therefore, it is convenient to carry out this operation with a partner, contacting, for example, by a mobile phone. The friend will inform the tuner about changes in picture quality depending on the results of his manipulation of the antenna.

Connecting a massive antenna

A massive antenna is the same beam antenna, often large and with an amplifier (active antenna). In this case, you will have to connect the power supply to the cable. A special clamp is provided on the power supply unit, where the coaxial cable from the antenna is attached.

Power to the amplifier goes through the metal braid of the cable, so it must be carefully cut, and, after stripping, lay the braid back, insert the central core into the retainer. The braid is then pressed against the tinned area together with the cable and the clamp. The indicator lamp should light up in full force, if this is not so, it means that the contact is incomplete or absent, you need to repeat it all over again.